As a librarian I talk books.. but there is SO much more to being a librarian! One of my favorite things about being a librarian is having the space to have programming of all different kinds! I know that many libraries have maker space opportunities..and that is AWESOME! I do mine a little differently. Whenever I have an idea for programming the first thing I do is go to images.google.com for inspiration. This blog will be FULL of pictures!
I also begin the year with goals that I set for myself. For advocacy I think it is important to set goals and then also continually update those goals. At the end of each six weeks I also have a newsletter that I share with my school admin and library admin. I can also share that information with our community through social media. To make these newsletters I use
Piktochart. I do pay for this service as I use it a TON!
I am extremely lucky to have an admin that understands the need for various programming, a district that values librarians, a clerk that is AMAZING and does so much behind the scenes items, and an amazing team of interventionist/specialist that is always willing to go above and beyond! All the things I am going to share I have done some form or fashion without a clerk.
We are all very busy people, but we also make time for things that are important. For me it is important to be involved. I try to make at least one sporting event per grade level per girls/boys. I also try to make it to at least one choir concert, band concert, orchestra concert.. and this year I finally made it to a Kickstart program! It is amazing what the kids think when they see me in the stands. Programming also happens with staff as well.
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| Sports team schedule posted in the library |
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| We have a bulletin board in the workroom that I have taken over. During the month of October it was a BINGO board, November was a thankful board (December I failed) January is going to be what brings you JOY |
This year our school had a Homecoming Week. The library hosted a station before school for 8th graders to be able to create either a garter or mum ring. We had over 100 students take part in this. Directions are made using
Canva (my other favorite program)
In October I also attempted the Pumpkin Book Character contest. We had 5 entries and although low, I still like offering programs that might interest just that one student!
I have had a total of 4 Cub Clubs now. We start our Cub Clubs with a fun headband, then kiddos and parents head over for a story time full of songs, books, movements and more. Then participants head over to complete a couple of crafts. I create the flyer in Library Aware. You can find all my materials in this
Google Drive folder. For each station we have all the materials prepared and also a sample made.
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| November headband |
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| Fingerprint tree |
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| December headband |
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| Reindeer ornament |
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| Dreidel sun catcher |
November 6th, the library was transformed into Camp Know Where for Stranger Things Day that
Kara Noah set up. The library hosted some fun 80's style maker space activities to get ready. We had a friendship bracelet making station, a scrunchie making station (we used hot glue.. although I would love to sew next year!) and fortune teller station. The actual day of Stranger Things Day staff and students were invited to dress up in their best 80s outfits. Students that had pre-registered were able to do a fun Stranger Things breakout after school. The library was packed with over 100 students in groups of 4 or 5 completing the themed Breakouts.
One of my favorite programs I have started this year is a Dance Club. I had a K-Pop club last year (which was great) but I wanted to be more structured (and let's be real.. I like K-Pop as much as the next person.. but I couldn't handle an afternoon a week watching videos with screaming girls.. I love them though!) Our feeder High School has dance programs, so I contacted the main dance crew director at Nimitz shared my crazy idea..and went with it. This year each six weeks the library will host a dance club that sort of shadows the high school. I have NO moves.. so I am thankful for the mini "workshops" Flipgrid and youtube. During the 3rd six weeks we focused on
Ballet Folklorico, the 4th Six Weeks will be the Kings, and the 5th six weeks will be the
Vikas. My hope was that each six weeks whoever was interested would come for an hour on Mondays after school. It turned into something SO much more amazing. The Ballet Folklorico group came over one time and taught some steps, and came back a second time! Not only that they then gave our students a chance to learn a whole dance to be used in the Nimitz Dance Showcase. It was amazing, and now our students have a chance to see what other programs will be available when they get to high school. I have NO dance experience.. and can't move gracefully at all- but the library has the space! We have also been invited to be in the next couple of dance showcases that are coming up. There were only 4 that participated, but I can not even begin to tell you the JOY I saw on their faces after they had performed. It was worth every bit of extra time!
Our ukulele group is still up and running. The Uke Can Do it Club meets weekly on Thursday mornings- we even performed a couple of songs for the Christmas on Crandall event.
I love programming, but I also love working with teachers and increasing instruction in the library. I also make it my goal to leave every day by 5:15pm (I also manager 4 Destination ImagiNation teams and am a Girl Scout leader.. and I am married to a very understanding and supportive husband) I leave school satisfied that even though I might not be the best librarian, I am providing opportunities, mentorship, and a space for middle schools to thrive (middle school is hard!)
There are so many things I want to do in the new year, but one of the first ones I am doing is participating in Celebrate Your Story
! Are you in the Texas area, if so.. you should check out this 2 day conference being put on by
Todd Nesloney. I am talking Bringing the Sunshine
I end this overfull blog with a couple of more pictures!
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| My ugly sweater- a book snowman |
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Did you know that my parents are Texas Santa and Mrs. Claus? I was able to spend time with them walking around the Stockyards last weekend (and- Texas Santa has donated 2 of his BEAUTIFUL handmade pens as door prizes for Celebrate Your Story)
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| The most wonderful team to work with! These guys inspire me daily! |
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